Chocolate
Truffle Shower
Ice Cream
I use it
every morning
in the shower
and it has
a wonderful
chocolate smell.

INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH

with Vivienne McAlister,
owner of

Simply Skin
in the picturesque town of Weesp.

Page 44

Page 3

“

Contents
EVENTS

SOCIAL FRIDAYS

22

PUB QUIZ

20

FILM

INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH

56

28
POETRY

44

40

film/

interview of the month/

poetry/

56

44

40

Kubrick exhibition at the
Eye film theatre

Page 4

Simply Skin owner
Vivienne McAlister

Words what rhyme and
stuff

BOLLYWOOD FUN

16
FAMILY

THEATRE

36 60

FOOD GLORIOUS

50
family page/

theatre/

food glorious/

36

60

50

Indian Summer on the
veluwe

Taming of the shrew

64

Menu of the month

Amsterdam Fringe
Page 5

Page 6

Chairman’s Blog
Stephen Huyton

W

elcome back after what has been a mixed summer weather-wise. I must confess
having had a brilliant holiday in Australia I have struggled to get back into a normal routine.
I really do not understand our Australian cousins who make Europe their home. Why would
you want to forsake such a beautiful country?
The original excuse for the trip was that we failed to get a single ticket in the ballot for
the Olympics, so like most people we were glued to the TV for the whole 16 days. It’s rare that
I make a political statement but I agreed with the sentiment that did the rounds on Facebook,
which suggested that the British press should respond to the feel good factor by reporting a little
more positive news and not always negative & salacious stories. I see the same discussion in
the Dutch press and have no doubt the world over that people would like a bit more good news!
Sadly I do not think the press will take much notice. Interestingly on our travels we stopped in
Singapore where the local newspaper sees it as being important to balance the two. Perhaps we
can learn something here.
Now that September has arrived thoughts start to turn to our winter activities. I would like
to draw your attention to a few events on the agenda. First, the Expatica Fair on Sunday 7th
October. This is our day to showcase BritSoc. It’s also a great day to meet other Clubs and Societies. For it to be a success we need volunteers to help man our stand and talk to people who
might be interested in joining or just in finding out what life as an expat is like. If you can spare a
few hours and would like to get to know a little more about expat life in Amsterdam, please get
in touch. All helpers have free entry to the fair so time enough to find out what else is going on.
Second, the Diamond Jubilee Ball committee is now busy with the planning for our big celebration on 8th December. If it’s not already live then the web site booking system will be active
in the next few days. Since this will be a very special event, tickets are going to be strictly limited
so I strongly recommend you register early. Remember, as a member you get a special price but
we cannot guarantee places, so please do not be left disappointed and book early!
As you know this is the second edition of our new online magazine, ZINE. Since its
launch we have received a lot of very positive comments. I would like to share one with you from
Emma McCarthy the Managing Director of Stichting Amsterdam Mamas see www.amsterdammamas.nl. Emma wrote,
“I saw the launch of Zine today and wanted to congratulate you on a job very well executed. It
is a great looking online magazine and a real credit to the team behind it. We will share it on the
Facebook page but if there is any way we could further help to support it and BritSoc, please do
let me know”.
I also think the team have done a great job and deserve a big thanks. This fulfills a
promise made at the last AGM to sort out the existing bulletin so it reflects the needs of a
modern organization. If you have any comments please let our editor know. Since it’s now digital
we are no longer limited by the number of pages so all articles and photos are welcome.
Please write to editor@britsoc.nl.

F

inally, our Social Friday has moved to the 2nd Friday of the month since everyone else now
has the same idea. This month it will be on Friday 14th at Café Wildschut. Our usual team is
away so Ann-Marie and I will be hosting. Anyone who tells me they have read this article gets a
free drink! See you there.
Stephen
email: chair@britsoc.nl

Page 7

Their
For
studentso
from 3 trs
18 yea

future is

our focus

Did you know that more parents choose the BSN
than any other international school in Holland?
With four campuses in The Hague area, The British School offers
a caring and stimulating learning environment, with an individual
approach that ensures every child can achieve their full potential.
The BSN is a thriving and supportive expatriate community made up
from over 80 nationalities. Contact us today to arrange a visit and see
for yourself why the BSN is the international school of choice.

Admissions: +31 (0)70 315 4077
www.britishschool.nl
Page 8

Taste Life!

Kingsalmarkt, the world-famous foodstore!
We are known for our wide range of products from countries all over the world. ‘Taste life’ is what
we call that. Visit us for your favourite American cornflakes, brownies and soups, British jams and
honey, Mexican tortillas, Spanish tapas and ham, Italian coffee and pasta and French cheese.
Of course you can pick up the rest of your groceries too.

BritSoc wishes all its Members
a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year

BritSoc wishes all its Members
a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year

THAT WAS THEN

Get the Festive Season off to a
good start and….
Come

dine with us

At The Mint Hotel, Amsterdam on Saturday 10th December 2011
at 19.00
Price per person Members 65,- Non Members
75, - includes
welcome drink, 3 course dinner and wine during the meal.
Reserve your tickets online www.britsoc.nl but hurry as numbers are limited.

Live like a Toff at the Pimms and Polo, Kick up your
heels Spanish Style at the Sevillanas evening or find
your Dream Partner at our Speed Dating Event!

THIS IS NOW

Introducing the ZINE
D

ear Member,

Following many requests and to keep up with the digital age, we have decided to deliver
the BritSoc bulletin by web link in an email from the July/August 2012 issue onwards.
This means that in future each member will receive an email with a web link which will
bring you to a page with an easy to read on screen magazine in a brand new format.
This new digital format means we will be less limited for space than we have been with
a printed version. It means we can expand the issues with more photos of events and
more useful information for our members.

The name of the new “magazine” is ZINE (“seen”) and will be a far more BritSoc
community-based, interactive magazine packed full of colour photos, information and
inspiration.
Your new magazine will be easier to access with all information to hand on your
computer or mobile device. In addition, we feel it is a more eco-friendly and efficient way
of getting our latest news to our membership.
As a final souvenir, the July/ August issue will be also sent in a printed form, but from
September we will be stopping with this printed format.
An online version of the bulletin opens up many opportunities for our members to
contribute news, articles and ideas, share opinions, give tips and advice about living in
Holland and send in photos.
Why not share details of fun activities coming up or of fun had and worth telling the
society about. Contributions can be large or small as we are no longer limited for space,
even a quote or a joke would do.
We hope you will be inspired to send your ideas, one-liners, pictures and colourful
contributions to editor@britsoc.nl.
Should you wish to receive the email link version of the magazine but have a preferred
email ad dress, please email this preference to editor@britsoc.nl quoting “Bulletin email
address” your full name and home address and the email address preferred.
We hope we can keep everyone informed in a way which best suits their lifestyle.
With best wishes,
Stephen Huyton
Chairman

Please join us. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss the fun of dancing to the famous B
numbers wearing the colourful costumes and enjoying a bit

ABC Treehouse

Sunday 16 September

3pm to 6pm

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Bollywood
dancing
is lively, exciting
and fun and
the one thing
I have never
failed to notice is
the smile
it brings to
the faces of the
people who
participate in
my workshops
Page 16

This Bollywood event will
provide a fusion of Indian dance,
costume, music, food and drinks
against a backdrop of colourful
Bollywood images and film.
In short, it promises to be a
unique opportunity to immerse
yourself in an exciting aspect of
Indian culture.

What exactly is Bollywood
dancing you may ask?

FUN

events/
Well, it’s the commercial name for
modern Indian dancing which is a
combination of classical Indian dance
(the base), folk dancing such as
Bhangra, sometimes with Latino and
Arabic influences.

Bollywood
of authentic India.

Marian Jenkins

It is very expressive as the movements
reflect the deep meaning behind the
music in the Bollywood films. You can
actually express what the music means,
through the graceful movements of the
body.
And, above all, it’s great fun!
Our instructor will be Vyjayanthi Iyer,
a model, actress, dancer and
choreographer from Mumbai, India.
She has been a resident in Amsterdam
for 6 years, and enjoys every bit of the
multicultural, vibrant, free-spirited life
it offers.
She shares her passion for dance by
hosting workshops for groups like ours
as well as for companies, fitness classes
and for special occasions like wedding
receptions and bachelor parties.
When Vyju and I got together we
decided we wanted more than just a
workshop so we have put together an
event where we can experience as
many of the sensations of India as
possible and enjoy them to the full.

Ann-Marie Toolen and our chairman, Stephen Huyton, will be at the Wildschut to
welcome you. Check out Stephenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blog, elsewhere in this edition of Zine, to find
out how you can get him to buy you a drink! Wildschut is known for its mixed
crowd and the interior for its stunning Art Deco look. It has a huge (hopefully
sunny!!) terrace. We will be outside if the weather allows it or inside near the bar.
Look out for the famous pink scarf. Social Fridays is a great opportunity to meet
new people or catch up with friends - all welcome, including non members.
Page 21

Join BritSoc

at the ‘i am not a tourist’

expat fair

Evelyn liu

Sunday 7th October at the Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam.
The “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair at the Beurs van Berlage
in the heart of Amsterdam serves the international community living,
working and studying in the Netherlands and has become an annual
institution, catering for newly arrived expats, long-standing residents,
individuals and families alike.

Those new to the Netherlands will

benefit from a comprehensive range of
services, conveniently housed together
under one roof. Topics include housing,
employment, banking, tax and schooling, all running alongside an entertaining programme of performances and
workshops.
More experienced expats and
long standing residents can enjoy
food, entertainment, networking sessions, informative workshops and
access to a wide range of groups and
clubs. What’s more, international artist
Jim Collier will exhibit his work. Professional visitors, concerned with international mobility, should not miss the
chance to network amongst this years
largest gathering of industry professionals.
Whether you are new to the expat
lifestyle or an old hand, Expatica’s fair

is about easing and enriching your life
abroad, providing instant access to the
international community.You don’t have
to take our word for it; here are testimonials from a visitor and an exhibitor:
Nicola McCall (visitor)
“I hadn’t been to the fair for 5 years;
I saw some familiar and some new
faces and enjoyed the talks. It’s a great
event and was busy even on the sunniest date I can remember! I think it actually re-energises a lot of us, stay put
expats, when we meet others in similar
situations, even if we’ve been around
the Netherlands for a long time. For
me, it was a ‘look how far I’ve moved
on from when I first came moment’?”
Expat Mortgages, Henk (exhibitor)
“Thanks for a great fair and for
all you hard work and efforts! It was
our third attendance and we’re very
pleased again!”

See video: http://www.expatica.com/iamnotatourist/

Page 22

events/
event/
Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for volunteers
to help on the BritSoc stand.
Contact: chair@britsoc.nl

By Abartitur
Page 23

Page 24

Amsterdam

events/

Hotel Night
Sat Jan 12 , 2013

Quinten Holtus

A special selection of luxury and lifestyle hotels in Amsterdam will open
their doors for Amsterdam residents. This unique event is part of the
official Amsterdam 2013 programme and will be the kick-off event of
this year of celebration.
Amsterdam Hotel Night
Despite the large variety of Amsterdam
hotels very few locals know what is
exactly offered behind those large hotel
facades. This weekend provides the
opportunity for hotels to show locals
that the Dutch do know what hospitality is. During the Amsterdamse Hotelnacht residents of Amsterdam get the
opportunity to stay overnight in one of
the 50 participating hotels. For a special price they can experience luxury
hotels like Conservatorium, the brand
new Andaz Hyatt Hotel and Hilton or
small boutique hotels like Vondel and
Seven One Seven. Besides booking a
room, people can buy a Keycard and
join a range of cultural, culinary and
creative events.
Act like a tourist
Theme of this hotel event is “experience your hometown as a tourist”.
During the weekend people from Amsterdam are invited to go to typical
tourist attractions such as canal tours,

museums, etcetera. The Amsterdam
Hotel Night focuses on inhabitants of
Amsterdam, whether they are Dutch
or expats. For expats the Amsterdam
Hotel Night is a great way to learn
to know the local hotels so they can
advise their visiting friends, family and
colleagues.
Package deal
In case you want to inform your members about this hotel event, we can
send you more detailed information in
September. We offer special a ‘package deal’ for partners and international
companies.
Should you have any questions about
the Amsterdamse Hotelnacht, please
do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
Quinten Holtus
Amsterdamse Hotelnacht
www.hbmeo.com

Malone’s Irish Bar
The PubQuiz will be a great evening once again, filled with lots of trivial knowledge, fun and team spirit.
There will be questions in different general knowledge categories as well as photo and music rounds.

top of that there will be fun prizes to win. You can sign up as a team consisting of five members. Smaller groups
or individuals can also sign up, as teams will be formed at the start of the quiz.(a great way to socialise).

Molly Malone’s Irish bar is located in a really old warehouse which gives it loads of character, situated along the
Zeedijk, bordering a small canal. Adding on to that there’s an authentic pub atmosphere and a great collection of
beers and whisky’s. Molly’s is not one of those typical touristy Irish bars but a genuinely friendly and great bar.
Molly’s serves food with a 10% discount for Britsoc pub quizzers.

Page 29

ads/ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Between a roc

Page 30

ck and a hard placeâ&#x20AC;?

Page 31

&

southern
smoked

Our InfamOus smOkehOuse

Our roots are in the Southern cooking of our
founder’s hometown of Memphis, Tennessee.
Nothing is more authentically, delectably Memphis
than Bar-B-Que. That’s why we don’t trust anybody
else to smoke our ribs and chicken. We do it all
ourselves - slowly, lovingly and right back there
in our own in-house smokers. You won’t find our
delicious Bar-B-Que sauce anywhere else either, it’s
a Hard Rock secret kept within our kitchen walls.
A full rack of West Tennessee-style ribs cooked to
perfection? Or how about our famous Southernstyle half chicken? Can’t decide? Try our Combo
and get the best of our Smokehouse! Bar-B-Que ribs,
Bar-B-Que Chicken and smoked pulled pork served
as a duo or trio.

Partner a delicious item from our
Smokehouse Range with a Corona
to be in with a chance to win a
trip to the Barclays ATP World
Tour Finals in London
in November

Max EuwEplEin 57-61 • 1017 Ma • aMstErdaM • +31-20-523-7625
By entering all contestants hereby fully, unconditionally and irrevocably release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless ATP Tour, Inc. (“ATP”) and all of its affiliates, officers, agents, employees, attorneys, members, sponsors, successors and assigns from and against any claims (known or unknown), demands, causes of action, judgements, liabilities, damages, costs and expenses that may arise out
of my participation as a prize winner of the Hard Rock Smokehouse Contest (the “Contest”), including any travel to be completed and/or any accommodations provided in connection with such prize.

Page 32

COMING UP AT THE HARD ROCK CAFE
September
Hard Rock Amsterdam
Southern & Smoke – Our infamous Smokehouse
Our roots are in the Southern cooking of our founder’s hometown of Memphis,
Tennessee.
In September you have the chance to win a trip simply by enjoying our food.
October - Halloween Events
Lil Witches & Monster’s Ball Halloween at Hard Rock Amsterdam
Trick or Treating games and more
Sunday 28th of October 11:00-12:30
Halloween Party at Hard Rock Amsterdam
Come in your best Halloween Costume for the chance to win €250
Wednesday 31st of October 21:00pm

Page 33

family/ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are we the

Page 34

ere yet dad?â&#x20AC;?

Page 35

family/
Indian summer

on the Veluwe
The Veluwe is an area in the middle of the Netherlands within the triangle
between Amersfoort, Arnhem and Zwolle. It is a mixture of woodland,
heathland and farmland with a lot of sleepy villages and historic towns.
The pace is less frantic than in the Randstad and it is very child friendly.
If you like camping then it is an ideal area for a ‘holiday at home’ but it’s
also great for a relaxed day out.
Elburg
Elburg is a lazy Saturday afternoon
haven where you can enjoy a drink at
one of the many cafés, watch the boats
in the harbour and wander around the
maze of narrow streets. If you want
to learn more about the history of the
town and its historic fleet of fishing
boats (bottervloot) then visit the town
on 8 September (Open Monument
Day). All the monuments are open and
can be visited free of charge. Around
the harbour are numerous stalls and
activities to do with the fishing fleet
and you can even take a trip on one of
the old boats.
info: www.botterdagenelburg.nl
(unfortunately Dutch only)
Nunspeet
Nunspeet is your gateway to exploring
the Veluwe countryside and the visitor’s
centre [http://www.staatsbosbeheer.
nl/Locaties/Veluwe-Noord/Buitencen-

trum%20Veluwe-Noord.aspx] at
Plesmanlaan 2 is just 5 minutes from
the town’s railway station. You can start
by climbing the panorama tower to get
a bird’s eye view of the Veluwe. Next
to the tower there is a children’s play
area. At the opposite side of the car
park is the visitor’s centre where you
can request information and hire bikes
and kick bikes. The visitor’s centre has
a small exhibition area (in Dutch) where
children can discover more about
wildlife on the Veluwe. There are various walking routes including a shorter
one for children where you follow the
gnome signposts through the woods.
It is possible to hire bikes but you need
to phone the company that does this in
advance to check details and availability (Extrarius Adventures 0341-270255).
If you decide to cycle then make use
of the cycle network (fietsnetwork).
The Veluwe has a series of numbered
points (knooppunten) that you can
cycle between, a cyclist’s dot-to-dot as

Dave Thomas
Page 36

it were. At each point there is a map
so that you can keep track of where
you are. Maps can also be purchased
at VVV and ANWB shops or online
[http://www.fietsroutenetwerk.net/
gelderland/veluwe.htm].
Most of the routes take you through
the woods and heathland on hardened
paths. Occasionally you cycle along
a country lane. Just a few kilometres
from Nunspeet is the Zandenbos with
a large beach, so take your swimming
gear.
Hattem
Hattem is a former Hanseatic town full
of historic buildings and several museums. The famous Dutch illustrator Anton Pieck lived in Hattem and there is a
museum [www.antonpieckmuseum.nl]
dedicated to his work . Adjoining this is

the museum of another local artist Voerman [www.voermanmuseumhattem.
nl]. A must-do for kids is the
Netherlands Bakery Museum
[www.bakkerijmuseum.nl]. The best
time to go, however, is in the school
holidays as then there are more childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities (next round is 13 to 28
October in the autumn holiday when
you can make gingerbread men).
info: www.ronduithattem.nl/en
Useful link
A good introduction to the Veluwe:
www.theveluwe.com
Tip
Sunday is not a good day to visit
the Veluwe as a lot of attractions are
closed.

Iconic
elegantly, you pluck a piece of pre-sliced apple from a pack
it slips almost unnoticed into your soft-spoken mouth,
a brief wiping of manicured fingers on your designer sleeve
and with a smile, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re seamlessly reabsorbed in your iphone
ÂŠ Dave Thomas 2012

Page 41

interview of the mo

Page 42

onth / “Skin Deep”

Page 43

interview of the month/

with Simply Skin owner Vivienne McAlister
Dave Thomas

What was your first job?
Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m a trained accountant and worked in the Finance Department of a large American company in Amsterdam.

So how did you make the switch to skin products?
Health problems forced a career change. I tried various things like relaxation therapy, stress management and yoga and then found a beauty course via the Internet
which was taught in England. I travelled across to complete several different beauty
courses. That grabbed me and I set up Simply Skin at the end of 2011.
Page 44

“

What makes your
business unique?

I personally make all of
the products by hand
and can tailor them to a
customer’s specific wishes,
e.g. with or without scent.

“

“

My business is
making a modest
profit selling honest
products at a fair
price.

What was the hardest part of setting up
shop?
Cash flow. Attracting clients is hard. Where I
come from in Northern Ireland a new shop in
town is guaranteed to attract interest. That’s

“

Why Weesp?
Amsterdam was too hectic. We moved to
Weesp for a bit more peace and quiet and
purchased this former barber’s shop. We
renovated it while keeping the original features. A shop on the Kalverstraat might have
been better for trade though.

different here in Holland. Customers appear to
be more cautious.
What’s the biggest obstacle you face?
Not speaking Dutch well. I understand it
reasonably well but speaking it is a struggle.
So any tips to accelerate my Dutch learning
would be welcome!
What personal characteristic helps you
most in business?
Grit determination.

Page 45

interview of the month/

What is your favourite skin-care
product?
Chocolate Truffle Shower Ice
Cream. I use it every morning in
the shower and it has a wonderful
chocolate smell.
Anything for guys?
Yes pre-shave oil, shaving cream
and post-shave cream. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m also
developing an all-in-one soap for
the gym.

And for children?
Not specifically, but I â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;m looking to
develop a mother and baby line of
products..
Are your products about looking
good or feeling well?
Definitely feeling well. My products
help your skin look and feel healthy,
and healthy skin tends to age slower.

What do you enjoy most in your
business?

The space to breathe and be creative.
I have goals and targets but no more

Page 46

Enter the world of Simply Skin at

www.simplyskin.eu

crazy deadlines.
What makes your business unique?
I personally make all of the products by hand
and can tailor them to a customer’s specific
wishes, e.g. with or without scent.
Who is your typical client?
I’m still working on that. I have cast the
net reasonably wide, predominantly
targeting females. Besides the shop, I
have a webshop (www.simplyskin.eu), a
Facebook page (SimplySkinEU) and a stall
at the Westergasfabriek Sunday market on
the 1st Sunday of the month and at the Pure
Markt at the Amstel Park on the 2nd Sunday
of the month. But I plan to focus more on
my niche market: customers who purchase
quality handmade products.
What helps you relax most?
Escaping into a good book as then I no
longer think shop. I’m reading Wuthering
Heights at the moment.
If skin products were banned, what would
you do next?
Open an allergy elimination practice. The
technique helped me in my fight with Crohn’s

disease. Actually I hope to set up such a
practice alongside Simply Skin. The two
compliment each other and I’ve space at the
back of the shop for a practice room.
What’s your 5-year goal?
My business is making a modest profit selling
honest products at a fair price.
What can readers do in Weesp?
Weesp is a picturesque town on the River
Vecht. You can enjoy a stroll down its old
streets and a drink by the waterside. There’s
an old fort at the Ossenmarkt with a tea garden
(open on Friday and Saturday). It’s also a great
cycling location. The historic towns of Naarden
and Muiden are nearby as well as the
Naardermeer (the oldest nature reserve in the
Netherlands).
Finally, what are your golden tips for
healthy skin?
It is important to care for your skin from both
the inside and the outside. So although it is
important to moisturise and exfoliate, I also
recommend drinking plenty of water, eating
lots of leafy and colourful vegetables and
cutting down on sugar.
Dave Thomas
Page 47

food glorious/ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sc

Page 48

cottish Risottoâ&#x20AC;?

Page 49

Chicken and
Mushroom Risotto
Karen Vivers

Page 50

food glorious/
Karen Vivers, originally from Scotland, has lived here

in Amsterdam for more than 12 years, and has set up
the Cooking Coach to help inspire people to get back
into the kitchen. The basis of the cooking lessons are
easy, tasty, healthy recipes. Each course starts with a
free introduction session, to make sure that you only
cook what you like to eat.
As well as cooking lessons, Karen offers Culinary
Tours in Amsterdam, is a passionate Food Blogger and
works freelance as a Culinary Consultant.

Method
1. Place the stock in a pan on the heat, make sure it
maintains a constant hot temperature, but does not
bubble.
2. Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed, high sided pan and
add the shallots to soften on a medium high heat.
3. Once the shallots are softened add all the rice and
stir around allowing the rice to be coated in oil and
shallots.
4. De-glaze with the lemon juice, once all the juice is
gone, start to add your stock. Add one ladel full and
stir on a medium high heat until all the stock has been
soaked up by the rice, then keep adding, bit by bit and
stirring until the rice it cooked.
5. Add the mushrooms, parsley and chives and cook
through, stirring for a couple of minutes – I like the
mushrooms to retain an al dente quality.
6. Then add the chicken, just mix through as it is already cooked and only needs to be warmed up. Followed by the spinach, allowing it to wilt into the risotto.
7. Add salt and pepper and then the crème fraiche, mix
through and serve immediately, sprinkling the basil and
parmesan over each portion.

Chicken and Mushroom Risotto

To be honest, I was never a fan of risotto. I used to
get bored eating it. It felt too gloopy and every mouthful
so samey, so I kind of gave up on it. However, having
had so many requests from clients who wanted to learn
how to make it, I thought, ok, ok, I’ll do it.
This recipe was my first, and I have to say it totally
converted me. This classic flavour combination is still
my favourite. After learning the basic technique, I realized that I could adapt it to all sorts of ingredients. This
appeals to my “thrifty” nature meaning that I can whip
up a delicious risotto with all sorts of left overs, turning
them into an elegant supper dish.
I have adjusted the traditional Italian risotto a little,
in that I use crème fraiche instead of butter (just makes
me feel less guilty). I have found that the crème fraiche
brings the dish together just as well as butter and gives
it that silkiness that every good risotto should have.
Ingredients for 4 portions
300gr risotto (Arborio) rice.
1 x tbsp olive oil.
2 x large shallots chopped finely.
Juice of one lemon.
1 liter of good quality chicken stock.
500gr cooked chicken breast chopped into bite sized
pieces.
300gr chestnut mushrooms, chopped roughly.
200gr baby spinach, chopped roughly.
Handful of chives, and of parsley both chopped finely
2 x tbsp crème fraiche.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Some roughly chopped basil leaves and finely grated
parmesan to dress.

Tips
If you make this in mushroom season, get creative
with the types available.
For a vegetarian version, lose the chicken, replace
the stock with vegetable stock or mushroom stock.
Using a pan with high sides means that the stock
doesn’t evaporate and is instead soaked up by the rice.
When cooking and adding the stock, you should be
aiming for a gentle simmer. Keep stirring, as you want
to release the starches from the rice to give it that oozing quality.
You can swap the lemon juice for a splash of white
wine, this gives a deeper taste, whereas the lemon juice
makes it fresher.
You can cook your chicken breast by poaching the
pieces in the stock that you intend to use for the risotto.

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your house.

Just three of Kubrick’s epic oeuvre of 15 films
produced over a period of 46 years.
The exhibition is a series of ‘rooms’,
each one dedicated to a different film.
The first room introduces Kubrick’s
career - he started off as a photographer for Look Magazine. Then you
progress through his history. In each
room scenes from the film are shown
on a big screen. The walls are covered
in various memorabilia such as items
from the film set, photos, and letters.
In the middle of the room you can
sit down and watch a documentary:
the story behind the film, its production and how cinemagoers received it
(Woody Allen needed to see 2001: A
Space Odyssey several times before
he could appreciate it).
Kubrick comes across in the exhibition as a perfectionist: always pushing
back the boundaries of technical possibilities (filming by candlelight in Barry
Lyndon) but also moral conscience (Lolita and Clockwork Orange). At times
I found myself in a history lesson, for

example when reading the correspondence about the morality of filming
Lolita or contemplating the farce of the
Cold War in Dr Strangelove (the custard pie scene at the end was cut). On
other occasions I was caught up in a
philosophical debate, as I watched a
scene from Full Metal Jacket in which
Kubrick portrays soldiers as neither
good nor bad but both.
My personal favourite? Without a
doubt, 2001: A Space Odyssey. The
film has a hypnotic effect on me. I like
its open ending as equally the many
questions it elicits but leaves unanswered. The documentary lets you in
on a few secrets about the film’s production and the memorabilia includes
one of the original gorilla suits.
You can also learn about two films
Kubrick planned but never made, Napoleon and the Aryan Papers, and how
Kubrick revolutionised the use of music
in films.

For further information see: http://www.eyefilm.nl/en/exhibitions/stanley-kubrick-thePage 56

WARNING: The exhibition is not suitable for children.

film/

Kubrick at the Eye
The Eye is also showing
many of Kubrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s films and
you can buy an exhibition
and film combi-ticket.

The Taming of the Shrew (Het temmen van
de feeks) premiered in Stadsschouwburg
Amsterdam in May 2005. For anyone who
missed the play or wants to see it again,
The Taming of the Shrew returns exclusively
to Amsterdam. The play is subtitled in English
on Thursday August 23, September 13 and
January 21 at the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam. ‘Van Hove’s Shrew is harsh, intense and
breathtakingly good’ de Volkskrant.
For further information please contact: Marleen Koens / Sunniva Matla,
(020) 795 99 39, e: marleen@tga.nl / sunniva@tga.nl
Page 60

T

synopsis
The businessman Baptista Minola has two
daughters: the charming Bianca and the brazen
Katharina. Katharina is every man’s worst fear, a
shrew who strikes terror into everyone around her
by word and deed. Her reputation deters any man
from marrying her. Her sister Bianca, on the other
hand, has a wealth of suitors. She is obedient
and complies with her father’s wishes. The same
Baptista sees fit to decide that no one is to marry
Bianca before a suitable match has been found
for Katharina. Against all odds, Petruchio comes
along, a man with the personality of a hurricane
who is prepared to marry Katharina provided her
dowry is set high enough. Katharina, however,
rejects him. From that moment on, Petruchio
strains every nerve to win her and tame her as
he would an animal until she surrenders to him,
wholly and unconditionally.
Parallel to Katharina and Petruchio’s story
runs the courtship of Bianca. Her suitors contrive
a cunning plan to win her heart. The contrast
between both storylines raises the question which
of the two relationships has a brighter future. One
thing is beyond question: Petruchio and Katharina
have examined their desires down to the very last
detail.
william shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew dates from around 1590
and is one of Shakespeare’s first comedies. For
Katharina’s character, he drew inspiration from
an old tradition of folk stories. In these, the shrew
was a merciless wife who eventually threw her
husband from the cliffs. Shakespeare portrays her
differently: both Katharina and Petruchio are persons of flesh and blood. Beneath a light-hearted

play of confusion lies an unerring analysis of an
intense love relationship.
ivo van hove
Ivo van Hove: ‘The Taming of the Shrew is not
just a love tragedy, but also a piece with overt
social criticism. The city of Padua, where The
Taming of the Shrew is situated, is governed by
economic principles, without any vision for the
future; a city that poses as tolerant, wealthy and
intellectual. The strict standards and values that
prevail there only serve to safeguard their economic interests. The human urge for anarchy,
for a fundamentally different, self-determined
life is neatly channelled in this way. Beneath the
mask of tolerance and civilisation hides a ruthless society in which the end justifies the means.
The story of Petruchio and Katharina shows that
people should acknowledge and respect themselves and others for their true nature in order to
reach a truly harmonious society.’ This season
Van Hove will also direct Persona and After the
rehearsal (Na de repetitie) by Ingmar Bergman.
characters
fred goessens
hélène devos
hans kesting
hugo koolschijn
halina reijn

vincentio
bianca
petruchio
baptista minola
katharina

Press cuttings
‘Van Hove’s Shrew is harsh, intense and breathtakingly good’ de Volkskrant ‘Hans Kesting and
Halina Reijn are brilliant’ Algemeen Dagblad
‘The play is fierce and extreme, but satisfies on
every count’ Het Parool.

Shadow over
Innsmouth
A bloodcurdling story of horror from H.P. Lovecraft

Shadow over Innsmouth is about an isolated
fishing village in New England. The town has
a horrible smell and an even worse reputation.
A young man on a trip through Massachusetts
gets stranded in the ruined town when his
bus breaks down. He hears strange noises
and discovers dark secrets behind the towns
boarded up windows. His investigations take
him deeper into a frightening world of strange
mutations and evil ancient Gods. His life
changes forever when he finds out that he is
something more than an innocent observer.
Dates & times:
Fri 31 Aug 19:45-20:35
Sat 1 Sep 22:15-23:05
Sun 2 Sep 19:45-20:35
Mon 3 Sep 22:15-23:05
Wed 5 Sep 19:45-20:35
Thu 6 Sep 22:15-23:05
Fri 7 Sep 19:45-20:35
Sat 8 Sep 22:15-23:05 and afterwards party

Online tickets can only be bought through the Fringe Festival website:
http://www.amsterdamfringefestival.nl/fringe/en/programme/fringe-2012/
shadow-over-innsmouth1.aspx.
Tickets can also be bought at the Fringe box-office until 1.5 hours prior to
the show, or at the door.
Page 66

Play reading ‘8’
and film ‘Milk’
8
Uncover the truth about marriage for gay and lesbian
Americans. “8”—a new play by Academy-award winning
screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk, J. Edgar)—demystifies the debate around marriage equality by chronicling
the landmark trial of Perry v. Schwarzenegger. Learn about
the historical context of marriage from expert testimony.
See the human cost of discrimination. Uncover the arguments used to justify bans on marriage for gay and lesbian couples. Using the actual court transcripts from the
landmark federal trial of California’s Prop. 8 and first-hand
interviews, “8” shows both sides of the debate in a moving 90-minute play.
MILK
After the playreading we will show the film ‘Milk’, also written by Dustin Lance Black, about Harvey Milk, the American politician who became the first openly gay man to be
elected to public office in California when he won a seat

>>>

Page 67

theatre/

Shake yer

Willie Shakespeare

Karaoke

Friday 28 September 8:30 pm
Stand-up actor, comedian and
Shakespeare connaisseur Will
Sutton hosts the Shakespeare
karaoke at the Badhuistheater. All
the audience takes part, as Will
has a big screen with all the texts
running simultaneously. A group
of international actors recite
sonnets and act out scenes from
Shakespeareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most important
plays, and the audience joins in
as well. Everybody gets to play at
the Shakespeare Karaoke!

Language no problem! Tickets can be bought at www.badhuistheater.nl
Page 68

>>>

Page 69

theatre/

Page 70

Page 71

teaser/ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Look into

Page 72

o my crystal ballâ&#x20AC;?

Page 73

A look into the crystal BritSoc Ball

As the winter weather appeared
early this summer, we thought it
appropriate to provide a teaser
for the

BritSoc Ball

This year’s ball will be held in the beautiful
St. Olof Chapel, at theBarbizon Palace Hotel.
It carries a rich history which we would like to share with you:

The chapel is located in a part of

town who’s history dates back to the
15th century. This area was once water
until rich merchants decided to fill it
in and thus created a new stretch of
land which became the dockyards of
Amsterdam. Its tar trade, which was an
important product to waterproof ships
in those days, blossomed especially in
the 16th and 17th century.
The chapel itself has a long history,
which is intertwined with the history
of the city of Amsterdam. The city of
Amsterdam came to life in the 12th
century, when its first inhabitants lived
around a dam in the river Amstel.
Because of its strategic location,
the city grew rapidly as a trading hub.
To sustain this growth during the
14th century, the city walls were
extended along the ‘Nieuwezijds - and

Page 74

Details:
Date:
Time:
Dress:

the ‘Oudezijds Voorburgwal’. One of
the new gates to the city was named
the Olofs gate and was located next
to the site where the St. Olof chapel
was later built. The St. Olof chapel
was built along the ‘Zeedijk’ in 1440.
In those days a considerable amount
of Scandinavian trade came through
Amsterdam. Its name therefore deriving
from Saint Olof, the patron saint of the
Norwegian sailors.
Over the following years and
centuries, the city evolved around the
area where the Chapel is located.
During this period the chapel itself was
altered and enlarged. Most notably in
1644, when an extension was built
and merged with the neighbouring
Jeruzalem Chapel, which was originally
a chapel for crusaders returning from
the holy land.

There were multiple entrances to
the chapel and one would use these
according to class and status. One
famous regular visitor to the church
was the Dutch seafarer and national
hero Admiral Michiel de Ruyter.
Barbizon Palace Hotel and
Vermeer restaurant.
The name of the hotel refers to a little
French village in the surroundings of
Fontainebleau near Paris. It was here
in the 19th century that a school of
painters evolved. The Hotel interior is

inspired by the style of the Barbizon
school painters. In 2000 the Barbizon
Palace Hotel was acquired by the NH
hotels, which is still the present owner.
The Hotel has an extended permit,
giving the Britsoc the opportunity to
party until 3am! The Vermeer restaurant
is part of the hotel and named after
the famous Dutch painter Johannes
Vermeer. The Michelin star restaurant
is proudly managed by the British `chef
de cuisine`; Christopher Naylor, who
will prepare a special three course
Jubilee dinner.